Go See Do Explore

In this episode, Ashleigh and Christopher dive into the latest travel news and updates from September 2024, including a record-setting year for US tourism, probes into airline rewards programs, hotel worker strikes, and more.

The US set a new record as the world's biggest travel and tourism market in 2023, totaling $2.36 trillion - 82% higher than China in second place. While many Americans travel abroad, domestic tourism remains incredibly strong.

There is increasing scrutiny on airline rewards programs and their impact on consumer prices. Christopher explains how credit card incentives raise costs for everyone.

Thousands of hotel workers across Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott hotels are on strike demanding better wages and workload reductions after pandemic cuts. The complex franchise model allows chains to avoid labor disputes.

The DOJ is allowing the merger between Alaska and Hawaii airlines to proceed due to minimal route overlap. The airlines will have a combined 140 destinations.

JetBlue now includes a free carry-on bag on all flights, differentiating from ultra low-cost carriers like Spirit and Frontier.

The iconic Havasu Falls on the Havasupai Reservation is closed after a devastating flash flood. Nearby Grand Canyon National Park lodging is also affected by a water main break.

Christopher tries a Pinotage from South Africa, a grape that is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault. He describes the fruity, cherry flavors and the controversy around growing this grape.

Scandinavian airline SAS has exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy with help from Air France/KLM taking a 19.9% stake. SAS has a goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

The mayor of Paris wants to keep the Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower until 2028, despite controversy from Gustave Eiffel's descendants and others.

To combat overtourism, Rome is considering a 1-2 euro fee to visit the iconic Trevi Fountain. This could help limit crowds and raise funds for maintenance.

The home and studio of Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens in Antwerp, Belgium is partially reopening after renovations. The core of the Baroque palace will remain closed until at least 2030.

An epic 3.5 year around-the-world cruise voyage has yet to depart after being scheduled to set sail in May 2024. Passengers await updates in Belfast.

To ensure tourists contribute more to infrastructure and conservation, New Zealand is tripling its visitor fee from $35 to $100 NZD beginning October 1st.

After years of growth, demand for all-inclusive resort vacations is on the decline. Travelers may be seeking more cultural experiences.

Let us know if you enjoyed this travel news format!

Ashleigh and Christopher walk through their process for planning vacations, from deciding on destinations to booking flights and hotels.

They keep a running list of places they'd like to visit and remain flexible, considering multiple options based on deals, weather, and what's going on in different locations at different times of year.

They start searching early to get a sense of prices and routes but don't book right away. For lodging, they look for something convenient and comfortable without overspending.

They consider the full cost of flights, lodging, activities, and food to determine if a trip makes sense for that time period compared to other options.

They typically book flights first since prices fluctuate. For lodging, they may book refundable reservations early to lock in options.

They recommend once you make your first non-refundable booking, be sure to buy travel insurance in case anything comes up. If you travel more than twice a year, an annual policy could save you money.

They aim to stay flexible as long as possible before committing to nonrefundable plans to take advantage of price drops or new opportunities.

They sample an Oak-aged Marsanne white wine from Domain Berrien winery in Michigan, impressed by the light, fruity flavor combined with oaky vanilla notes.

They share their awe at seeing the restored Michigan Central Station in Detroit after 30 years of abandonment. Ford took great care to accurately recreate original details. They recommend visiting this impressive revival of an iconic building if traveling through Detroit.

Ashleigh and Christopher discuss some of their favorite travel television shows and what they like about each one. They talk about shows like Somebody Feed Phil, Men in Kilts, Expedition Unknown, and others.

Ashleigh and Christopher introduce the podcast and say they will be talking about travel TV shows that inspire them.

Some of their favorites include:

• Samantha Brown's Places to Love - Quirky show on PBS where Samantha Brown travels the world. She owns all the content herself.

They mention several other shows including Men in Kilts, Somebody Feed Phil, and more. Each has its own unique perspective on travel.

Ashleigh and Christopher taste a wine from Mt. Vesuvius during their wine break segment.

Additional shows they discuss include:

• Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father - Jack travels with his elderly father, leading to funny misadventures.

They emphasize that there are many great travel shows out there across streaming platforms.

Ashleigh and Christopher close out the episode by recapping their recent trip to West Michigan. They discuss staying in Ludington, visiting some distilleries and restaurants, and taking a ride over the sand dunes..

This episode of the travel podcast Go See Do Explore provides tips for avoiding crowds and still seeing the top sights when visiting popular tourist destinations. Ashleigh and Christopher share strategies like traveling off-peak, booking advance tickets, and exploring alternative sites.

Ashleigh and Christopher introduce themselves and the podcast's goal of providing travel inspiration and hidden gems.

Key tips:

• Travel off-season when possible - avoid summer and major holidays

Strategies to beat the crowds:

• Check destination's festival and cruise ship schedules to avoid extra crowds

Making transportation easy:

• Use TSA PreCheck and Mobile Passport to speed airport lines

Ashleigh and Christopher review a bubbly Michigan rosé wine from Fenn Valley Vineyards.

The hosts recommend three sights in Sitka:

• Fortress of the Bear rescue center

Ashleigh and Christopher sign off and remind listeners to leave reviews.

This week Ashleigh and Christopher break down all the major announcements about upcoming attractions and expansions across Disney's theme parks and cruise ships from the recent D23 Expo event. Get the inside scoop on what's coming soon to Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Disney's cruise fleet.

Ashleigh and Christopher introduce themselves and the podcast. They share their passion for travel and exploring the stories that make each destination unique.

Ashleigh explains that D23 is Disney's biennial fan convention where they make major announcements about upcoming movies, parks expansions, etc. She notes that everything announced is currently in production, not just ideas, so there's a good chance it will actually happen.

• Villains-themed land with 2 attractions coming behind Big Thunder Mountain  

• Monsters Inc.-themed land with a doors rollercoaster

• Dinoland becoming tropical Americas area

• Test Track reimagining opening in 2025

• Tiana's Bayou Adventure opening where Splash Mountain was

• Avengers Campus expanding with new Avengers and Iron Man rides

• Frozen land coming to new Disney Adventure Park in Paris

• 4 new ships announced, bringing fleet to 13 total

Ashleigh and Christopher talk about finding budget wines at grocery stores like Aldi and Costco. They taste test an Aldi Prosecco.

Ashleigh directs listeners to Disney Parks Blog for more details on announcements.

In this episode, hosts Christopher and Ashleigh each share their top 5 places they want to travel to for the first time. They discuss the unique aspects of each destination that call to them, from the beaches of Hawaii to the historic streets of Kyoto.

• Mendoza wine region and Buenos Aires, Argentina

• Hawaii

Some other picks that came up in discussion:

• Costa Rica

Christopher and Ashleigh try Mawby Winery's Yarrow aperitif wine, chilled and in spritz cocktails. They discuss the flavor profile and best pairing options.

Ashleigh recommends using Eater city guides to find top local restaurants in a variety of prices and cuisines when traveling. She creates a custom Google Map to easily see recommendations nearby.

Christopher looks up airport dining guides from Eater when traveling through airports.

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In this episode, Ashleigh and Christopher continue their Italy recap, focusing on Venice and dining in Italy.

Venice is a series of islands connected by canals. Cars are not allowed except at the train station. The main ways to get around are:

• Walking - Venice is very walkable. You can walk end to end in about 2 hours.

Highlights in Venice:

• Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs

Venice has a major overtourism problem, but crowds were smaller than normal when Ashleigh and Christopher visited.

Venice is known for seafood, but finding authentic Venetian cuisine is difficult. Most restaurants cater to tourists. Highlights include:

• Spaghetti with anchovies

Tips for dining in Italy:

• Most Italians in the service industry speak English well.

Christopher & Ashleigh recommend the book Rick Steves Italy for Food Lovers for information about local cuisine in each region and tips for dining.

Ashleigh and Christopher enjoyed amazing food, wine, and dining experiences across Italy. Buon appetito!

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Ashleigh and Christopher recap their time in Florence and Bologna during their trip through Italy. They discuss the sights, food, and wine in these two culturally rich cities.

The hosts stayed in the Oltrarno neighborhood, known for its hip, local vibe. They visited the famous Uffizi Gallery and saw Michelangelo's David at the Accademia Gallery. A highlight was a wine tour through Chianti Classico vineyards known for bold, full-bodied reds. For more information about the tour, check out Viator.

Quote: "Tuscany is known for full-bodied reds. That's really the main thing that they do." - Christopher

Food highlights in Florence included the famous Florentine steak, wild boar ragu, and gelato. Ashleigh recommends booking tickets for major sights like the Uffizi and Accademia in advance.

The hosts discuss how Bologna is known as a foodie destination, with Emilia-Romagna cuisine that features Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, Parma ham, traditional balsamic vinegar from Modena, and mortadella.

They took a delicious food tour of Bologna, visiting markets and sampling local specialties. To book your own Bolognese food tour, check out Viator! The city is also known for its covered sidewalk porticoes. Ashleigh fell in love with the Emiliano Spritz cocktail featuring Lambrusco and apricot juice.

Christopher reviews a Nero d'Avola wine from Sicily, one of his favorite Italian red grapes. He notes it is fruit-forward with medium body, almost reminiscent of Malbec.

Some of the links below are affiliate links and as such, we earn a small commission from purchases that allow us to continue telling you our stories without costing you anything extra. 

In this episode, hosts Christopher and Ashleigh recap their time in Sicily and Naples during their trip to Italy.

Some highlights from Sicily:

• They picked up a rental car in Catania which ended up being a larger SUV, making driving on narrow roads a challenge

To book your own tour of Taormina or a Guided Volcano Hike, check out Viator!

In Naples, they experienced:

• Very crowded streets and a chaotic energy typical of the city

Overall, Ashleigh and Christopher found Naples to be one of their favorite destinations in Italy with incredible food, fascinating history, and an authentic energy. To book your own Neapolitan Pizza making class, check out Viator!

They sampled Juculano, a light, floral sparkling Catarratto wine from Nicosia Vineyards in Sicily that perfectly embodied the island. Christopher provided background on the IGT designation in Italy and why it allows for expressive winemaking.

Travelers Christopher and Ashleigh introduce a new series of episodes detailing their recent 2.5 week trip to Italy. They start in Sicily and make their way north to Venice.

The hosts took the train for transportation between cities in Italy. They found it convenient, inexpensive, and easy to book directly through the Italian train company, Trenitalia. Tips for booking:

• Search city names in Italian

They also discuss options for overnight trains and compare the sleeper cabins.

To get to Italy from the US on a budget, the hosts flew Spirit Airlines to New York, then connected to Paris on Norse Atlantic and then to Sicily on EasyJet. On the way back they flew EasyJet, French Bee, and United. Key discussion points:

• Comparing premium economy on Norwegian vs French Bee

Overall they found budget airlines can offer more comfort with significant savings if you're flexible.

During their layover in Paris, the hosts walked 25,000 steps to see sights like the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and Notre Dame Cathedral. Much of the city was blocked off for Olympics preparation. They recommend getting a Metro ticket on your phone and having the latest OS version.

"Until next time, keep exploring, keep dreaming, and keep traveling by any means necessary."